Massachusetts is the best state in the U.S. for working moms while Louisiana is the worst, according to an analysis published April 28 by WalletHub.
The personal finance website compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three dimensions: child care, professional opportunities and work-life balance.
Analysts then evaluated the dimensions using 17 metrics, which ranged from day care quality to women’s average commute time (in minutes).
Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the best conditions for working moms. WalletHub used each state and the District’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score. More information about the methodology is available here.
Best states for working moms, per the analysis:
1. Massachusetts — 72.37
2. Connecticut — 66.29
3. Rhode Island — 63.82
4. District of Columbia — 63.58
5. Maine — 62.31
6. Minnesota — 58.03
7. Vermont — 57.86
8. Wisconsin — 56.38
9. New Jersey — 56.26
10. New York — 54.41
Worst states for working moms, per the analysis:
1. Louisiana — 25.35
2. Alabama — 28.80
3. Nevada — 31.70
4. Mississippi — 32.00
5. New Mexico — 32.70
6. South Carolina — 34.48
7. Arizona — 35.64
8. West Virginia — 35.92
9. Idaho — 37.28
10. Oklahoma — 37.62